https://odb.org/2025/12/01/dont-do-this-alone
Romans 12:3–8 (NIV): 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
As I opened the bookshelf assembly instructions, I viewed a set of instructional diagrams of what to do and what not to do. One diagram—with a large X on top—depicted a person staring at a pile of boards and tools with a bemused frown not unlike mine just a few minutes prior. On the right side was drawn the “correct” way to assemble. The only difference? A second person was there. Both figures now had smiles on their faces as they worked together. So I got my husband. “The instructions say I need your help,” I said, showing him the drawing. He laughed, and we assembled it together. I could have stubbornly tried to find a way to put it together on my own. But the manual was right; the process wasn’t meant to be done alone. (Monica La Rose, Our Daily Bread, 1 December 2025)
While there are things that may be attempted alone, there are matters that should be undertaken by more than one person. In fact, assembling furniture usually require two persons. For example, in counselling, it is better to counsel someone from the opposite gender as a couple to avoid possible emotional attachments. The reason is that people are at their most vulnerable when going through emotional turmoil and thus most susceptible to developing new relationships.
In the Kingdom of God, ministry is almost always collective as each of us have our part or role to play. Each of us has a different gift, according to the grace given to us. We are all unique and thus, we are to complement one another. We are not in competition as we serve God in accordance with our own God-given abilities, gifts and talents. As per the Parable of the Talents, we just need to act upon the talent given to us and not hide it away somewhere. Use it for the betterment and expansion of the Kingdom of God that more will repent from their sins and give their lives to God.
Our responsibility and obligation is to do our part and for some of us, that could be to provide leadership and lead. Some may be to mentor or make disciples. Or others, like what my wife and I have been doing in our Young Adults group, is to guide aspiring young believing adults to adapt and thrive in the workforce while growing spiritually. After all, we have been in the working world for more than 30 years, in management and various capacities. Just do our part as God calls us for the season but always remember that in ministry, two is always better than one!
Have a good week ahead, everyone! Let’s do our part for the Kingdom of God even as we do our job to earn a living for our family, to pay the bills and put food on the table and most importantly, to carve out a better future for our children in the world and the Kingdom of God! Amen!
Ronnie's Thoughts 